Is it really possible to buy a stash of one-sized cloth diapers and not buy another one throughout the life of the child? Is there a cloth diaper that will withstand years of use with multiple children?
Certainly the answer can be yes to both of these questions but there are limitations.
When many families discover cloth diapers, saving money is usually on the top of the list. Who can argue with the stats? In the first 2 years of a child’s life they will go through about 5,840* disposable diapers. Multiply that times $0.25 (I looked at a few brands/sizes and took this as an average) and you're spending $1460.
Pick any one-sized diaper and you’d hardly come close to a third of that!
Some examples from Banana Peels Diapers (free shipping over $50):
Bum Genius Organic AIO- 18 pack $397.44
Rumparooz- 18 for $405 (each diaper comes with 6r soaker)
Flip- 4 Stay Dry Day Packs $199.80 (8 covers and 24 inserts)
Bum Genius 3.0 One Size- 18 pack $305.10
Katydid- 18 pockets $323.10 (comes with 2 inserts)
Fuzzi Bunz One Size- 18 pack $323.10 (comes with 2 inserts and replacement elastic)
Blueberry Minky One Size- 18 for $593.10 ($32.95 is expensive!! but you’re still saving over disposables and they include an awesome hemp/microfiber one-size insert)
Softbums Complete Package (from www.softbums.com)- $362.95 You can easily use Softbums right from birth. This package includes 10 covers, 36 inserts, 10 doublers.
So what about the durability of one-sized diapers? Will they break down after 2 years of use?
In my experience, natural fibers like cotton and bamboo do break down much quicker than most would like. After using my Bum Genius Organic AIOs in heavy rotation for 1-2 years some are starting to show significant wear. I also had this occur with my Sustainablebabyish bamboo fitteds. Wear includes holes near the edges and seams. Are these diapers unusable? Certainly not. I use the holey pink BG Organic that was originally Paisley’s on Sterling often.
If the one-size diapers you choose contain a microfiber insert, plan on replacing those once a year. Microfiber tends to lose its absorbency, not to mention stink like crazy. However, with the new detergents on the market like Clean B and Hard Rock an overnight soak has proven to give new life to dead inserts.
Where one-size diapers really hold their value is when you are cloth diapering 2 children. This can be a huge money, time and resource saver! We always have an overlap between children where I am cloth diapering 2. Inevitably, this drives me crazy. However, having a diaper that I can use for either child reduces my stress a lot.
Are one-size cloth diapers worth it? Yes! Are there good choices and excellent choices? Yes. But, remember, don’t buy 18 of any diaper without first trying 1!! You really don’t want to deal with the hassle of reselling them all.
